Karnataka Bandh Updates: TN to appeal SC for 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water

Hundreds of protestors were detained during Friday's Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations and farmers' outfits to protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The Bengaluru Police detained over 700 agitators who tried to block roads during the day-long shutdown.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that the government do not want to release water to Tamil Nadu at this point.

He said, “A meeting with retired Supreme Court justices, irrigation experts and former advocate generals has been called this evening to discuss the next steps. Our stand is not to give water. We will discuss what will happen if such a decision is taken. If the water is not released, can the central government seize the reservoirs? Can it be contempt of court? Can the government itself be sacked? We will discuss all these implications.”

Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar extended his apologies to Siddharth on behalf of pro-Kannada members who disrupted the press meet yesterday. He said that the people of Karnataka are the most humble people and they welcome every actor in other industries.

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "We should be clear about the distress formula before demanding it. For that, we will first discuss about the formula (ourselves). A meeting has been called for this evening (Friday),"

He said that the government will hold a discussion in the Chief Minister's office with senior lawyers, advocate general and senior irrigation experts who are handling the Cauvery case in the Supreme Court for the state.

He also said that he has instructed the officials that they should attend today's CWMA meeting in person instead of online.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the Congress led Karnataka government for the way it is dealing with Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu. He also said that Bengaluru will run out of drinking water if the government doesn’t act and alleged that there is no proper coordination between the CM and deputy CM of Karnataka.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said there was no need for a bandh over Cauvery row as his government is protecting the interests of the State. A Karnataka bandh, called by various pro-Kannada organisations along with farmers' outfits, was observed today to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah called for a meeting on Friday evening with the legal and irrigation experts to chalk out a distress formula for the Cauvery dispute between the state and Tamil Nadu. “A decision will be taken after a meeting with a team of legal and irrigation experts this evening,” said CMO in an announcement.

As Karnataka is under bandh today, the transport between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu was affected. Many buses which are coming to Karnataka from Tamil Nadu districts were diverted by the police at borders. A lot of buses remained in the bus stands at Hosur, which is on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Bengaluru's popular Rameshwaram cafe has extended its support to Karnataka bandh and stood with the farmers who are protesting against releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The outlets have even displayed a placard and announced that the Rameshwaram cafe stands with the Cauvery protests in Karnataka.

Pro-Kannada organisations, farmers' association leader Kurubur Shanthakumar, and other organisation leaders met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and demanded a distress formula solution when there is less rain in the state.

Siddaramaiah earlier said that they are working on a distress formula and even requested for PM Modi's intervention in the Cauvery dispute.

Jaggi Vasudev aka Sadhguru said that tree based agriculture can help Cauvery river not to dry up during the summer months.

In an X post, he said, “Mother Cauvery does not know which state we belong to but she is suffering with depletion and drying up during the summer months. Bringing large scale tree based agriculture and vegetating the 83,000 sq kms of Cauvery basin is the only way Cauvery will flow 12 months of the year in abundance. Let us strengthen and enhance Mother Cauvery rather than fighting over depleted waters. Let wisdom prevail.”

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya blamed the Congress led Karnataka government for receiving adverse orders from CWMA regarding the Cauvery water dispute.

He said, “CM @Siddaramaiah govt has the basic responsibility of representing facts - in the best manner possible - before the CWMA. But its abject failure in highlighting 60% deficit rainfall during SW Monsoon, drought in 32 of 34 Cauvery taluks, requirement of 106 TMC water for Karnataka with only 50 TMC of water in Cauvery reservoirs and oncoming northeast monsoon for TN has resulted in Karnataka receiving adverse orders from CWMA in every meeting."

Kannada actors have come together in support with state wide bandh called by farmer groups and pro-Kannada organisations. Actors Shivarajkumar, Darshan, 'Duniya' Vijay and Dhruva Sarja were among those who took part in the protest held near Sri Gururaja Kalyana Mantapa.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce on Thursday announced support to the day-long bandh after a meeting, Theatres across the State have canceled the shows till evening, with the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association backing the shut-down.

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "Karnataka bandh is totally peaceful. All the people are cooperating. We have given full protection to everyone. We requested the institutions not to call for a bandh since there is no consent from the Supreme Court or High Court. So, Bengaluru and Karnataka are safe...In the afternoon there is a meeting, I have sent our team there. We will discuss various issues." (ANI)

“Farmers do not have water to support their one-standing crop. In this scenario, releasing additional water to Tamil Nadu will severely compromise the state's drinking water needs. This is a very grim reality that needs to be presented before the Cauvery Water Management Authority. There is no coordination between the CM and the deputy CM. The state government is very casual in its approach,” Tejasvi Surya said. (ANI)

On the Cauvery Water Issue, BJP Yuva Morcha National President and MP Tejasvi Surya said, “The Water situation in Karnataka is extremely grim. The state has suffered a 60% deficit in rainfall this year. The state needs about 106 TMC of water, it has only 50 TMC water.” (ANI)

Not all regions of Karnataka responded with equal fervour to the bandh call. Haveri reported a lacklustre response, with public transport and commercial establishments operating normally. Belagavi also remained largely unaffected, with schools and businesses continuing their regular operations. In Kodagu district, shops and establishments remained open, and people carried on with their daily routines.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Friday alleged ongoing protests in Karnataka against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to be “just political”. Elangovan said that the Cauvery is not Karnataka’s property, further alleging that the state government is “submitting” to local politics. (ANI)

"We have come over here to protest against the Cauvery water issue. This is very old issue and we should solve this problem at the earliest. All the parties of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should sit and sort out this matter," said a member of a pro-Kannada organisation in Bengaluru on Cauvery River water issue. (PTI)

Farmers' association in Tamil Nadu's Trichy staged a protest by standing in the Cauvery, demanding release of more water to Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

Members of farmers' association in Karnataka's Mandya held 'Rail Roko' protest over the Cauvery water sharing issue. See visuals (ANI)

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, "The state government is releasing Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu. If Cauvery River water is going to Tamil Nadu like this, the people of Bengaluru will not have drinking water. The Karnataka government has failed to present its case before CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority)." (ANI)

On the Cauvery water sharing issue, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan said, "We will again demand the release of 5000 cusecs of water from Karnataka. We will appeal to the Supreme Court and they will direct the Karnataka government." (ANI)

Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj detained by the Town Hall Police during the Karnataka Bandh protest. See visuals. (ANI)

The worst-hit KSRTC divisions in terms of operations were Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Against the scheduled departure of 447 buses, only seven plied in Mysuru while in Chamarajanagar, eight out of 247 bus services operated. Mandya, Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru witnessed 37.25 per cent, 51.49 per cent and 57.39 per cent operations, respectively, against the scheduled departures. (PTI)